Extra Load tyres vs Normal

I am about to purchase a set of Goodyear Efficient Grip Performance for my MK3 Mondeo & noticed they do a re-inforced/extra load version for only £10 more each.

It has always bugged me how squishy the fronts feel but I have never gone with another tyre as these are quiet & it grips well in the wet. Another issue is the car eats the inner edge of these tyres on the front presumably as they are a bit squishy/have sidewalls made of cheese.

Will a reinforced (94 as opposed to 91 load rating) fare any better? What are the bad points to using them?

They're designed around heavier cars/vehicles so they'll feel like you've fitted stiffer suspension but now much stiffer I've no idea.

Inner edge wear, that's usually a toe and/or camber issue so check the geometry before looking at the tyres themselves. My Mk3 tyres didn't wear at all until I knocked the tracking out on a pot hole and the camber adjuster couldn't bring it back enough.

The suspension is fine, was last checked 2 months ago, it's always destroyed these particular tyres but I don't want to change them as they grip nice in the wet and are quiet.

They always look under inflated on the front, even if I over inflate them.

I just don't want XL tyres to either make more noise, reduce grip or make it feel like I've fitted poly bushes.

My experience is that XL has no real difference over the regular ones.

XL are a bit noisier, have more rolling resistance and are a bit harder ride. But they are more durable and will last longer. XL is recommended for performance cars and is usually the only option on them.

But if the front feels to spongy that will probably be the type of tyre your using. Efficient grip are a budget tyre. You need something like Eagle F1s if you want to improve the handling and feel (but they won't be quite as quiet).

Un-even wear normally means the tracking is off, should get it checked/corrected about once a year. The tyres will last a lot longer if it's aligned properly.

Nasher said:

But if the front feels to spongy that will probably be the type of tyre your using. Efficient grip are a budget tyre. You need something like Eagle F1s if you want to improve the handling and feel (but they won't be quite as quiet).

Un-even wear normally means the tracking is off, should get it checked/corrected about once a year. The tyres will last a lot longer if it's aligned properly.

Click to expand...

Those tyres are not available in my size, goodyear only sell Vector's & Efficient Grip, that is it.

And the tracking is perfect, I had it 4 wheel aligned 12 months ago and last week I took it in for a check as I am planning on ordering tyres and they said there was nothing to change.

I have an old (03) Volvo V70 T5 that was originally shod with 225x45xr17 91 rated tyres. The fronts always looked under inflated. I 2 buckled wheels and 3 front punctures (over several years) as a result of hitting pot holes. I moved to 94 rated tyres and it feels much much better and no problems. (possibly the car should have come with 94 rated tyres in the first place, I don't know).

Iamzod said:

Those tyres are not available in my size, goodyear only sell Vector's & Efficient Grip, that is it.

And the tracking is perfect, I had it 4 wheel aligned 12 months ago and last week I took it in for a check as I am planning on ordering tyres and they said there was nothing to change.

Click to expand...

Goodyear is the only tyre company in the world that makes tyres for your car??


Nasher said something "like" F1's, there are other tyre companys making tyres "like" F1's you can buy for a bit better handling

XL can run higher pressure and hence higher load. It makes no difference if you run both normal and XL at same pressure

The trade off is they are heavier and noisier due to the extra steel cords

Iamzod said:

Those tyres are not available in my size, goodyear only sell Vector's & Efficient Grip, that is it.

And the tracking is perfect, I had it 4 wheel aligned 12 months ago and last week I took it in for a check as I am planning on ordering tyres and they said there was nothing to change.

Click to expand...

This sounds a bit like how I was with my Focus. 205/55/R16 and thought I was stuck with EfficientGrip Performance's as the best tyre for that size, even though the sidewalls are soft as butter.

Try Yokohama V105's. Better in every way, bar maybe noise, but to be honest wind noise was louder than tyre noise in my car.

Simon said:

XL can run higher pressure and hence higher load. It makes no difference if you run both normal and XL at same pressure

The trade off is they are heavier and noisier due to the extra steel cords

Click to expand...

The other downside people don't realise is the load carrying capacity below roughly 2.6 bar is lower on an XL tyre than a normal tyre of the same rating. So they really need to have higher pressure to see any benefit.

Dandle said:

The other downside people don't realise is the load carrying capacity below roughly 2.6 bar is lower on an XL tyre than a normal tyre of the same rating. So they really need to have higher pressure to see any benefit.

Click to expand...

I've always run XL tyres 0.1bar higher than the non-XL rating specified on the car. Not sure if this matters at all though.
Either way, I rock the pressures up to max when I've got the family and luggage in tow on long trips anyway.

Haze said:

Goodyear is the only tyre company in the world that makes tyres for your car??

Click to expand...

No, but I am anal about having matching tyres all around, if I switch the fronts to something new I won't be happy unless I change the rears to match.

My 10 reg Focus came with XL tyres and it is specified in Handbook for all size rims - I have 225/40/18 standard Ford fit and also have some 205/50/16 steels for winter.

My worry is if you have a accident the insurance might refuse your claim if they are not XL.

I also find they are horrendously noisy, but good when you hit a pothole - Of the two wheel sizes I much prefer the feel of 16" wheels.

I replaced a full set of EfficientGrip performances recently, they were excellent, wore well, lots of grip, but as OP said they always looked underinflated and I could feel how squishy they were!

Have some Michelin Pilot Primacy's now, and while they don't seem to be as good for grip, they are at least a bit firmer... Don't know why the GY's are so soft really.

Vredestein Ultrac Satins are supposed to be really quite good, and have stiff sidewalls. Might be worth a look.

I have XL on mine. Can't say I notice them too much with regards to bumps and smoothness but the road noise is definitely there.

They do take potholes very well though.

I need some new rear tyres for my Accord and looking at Goodyear Asy 3 noticed that 91Y rated tyres have a fuel efficiency rating of E whereas the 94Y have a lower rating of C.

Noise is the same 68dB for both and in terms of price, the difference is the XLs are a fiver more each.

So would that extra tenner be better off in my pocket or not? Or am I over thinking things

XL Goodyears fitted to my car but it is a big mahoosive Discovery 4.

My Saab 95 estate is 1620 kg. Do I need extra load tyres?

Decided to go with the XL tyres from F1 AutoCenter as they had today reduced the tyres? from £81.90 to £78.60 fitted.

Have tyre prices come down of recent as I'm sure I used to pay around £116 a corner before?

EDIT: Just realised that prices mean nothing without size, 225/45/17/W but I went with 94Y in the end.